Blame alliance for tariff hikes

By unknown -
30 June 2009 - 02:00

ANY right-thinking citizen with an average political consciousness will agree with me that the ruling alliance must be held responsible for the outrageous Eskom electricity tariff increase approved by national energy regulator of South Africa.

ANY right-thinking citizen with an average political consciousness will agree with me that the ruling alliance must be held responsible for the outrageous Eskom electricity tariff increase approved by national energy regulator of South Africa.

Both the South African Communist Party and Cosatu have been part of the ANC-led ruling alliance since 1994 so it cannot be exonerated from the poor decision taken on the report presented to the ANC's minister and parliament in 1998-99.

We have noticed that in most instances when the ANC has made poor decisions about the smooth functioning of state enterprises such as Eskom, the SABC and SAA , miscalculation on alleged deployment of inept, inexperienced, incompetent and unqualified loyal party cadres to some of the state organs are blamed.

Both the SACP and Cosatu have the tendency to plead ignorance on all these matters, yet are too quick to claim victory on the stories that are in their favour.

In this instance, as a patriotic South African who refuses to be taught patriotism by people with no particular firm ideological orientation and who are pro-capitalist in theory and practice, we hold all of them directly responsible for this outrageous electricity tariff increase of 31,3 percent. This includes all ruling alliance partners.

Surely many South Africans are gatvol with their antics. Had they indeed not been consulted and were unhappy with how the Stellenbosch group led the alliance, all of them had an opportunity to reject the alliance and not endorse the ANC in all elections.

As for Nersa, I really saw no point in organising public hearings on this matter. They have just incurred unnecessary expenditure.